October Term 2005 · Docket 04-9728
Can police search parolees without individualized suspicion?
California law allows officers to search parolees without specific evidence of crime. the side that brought the case argues this violates the Fourth Amendment.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the side that brought the case's counsel stated the search lacked individualized suspicion.
the side that brought the case's counsel argued no adequate safeguards limited officer discretion.
California's counsel cited high recidivism rates as justification.
California's counsel argued the search is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-54 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Fourth Amendment. It asks if a state can require parolees to accept warrantless searches based solely on their status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-54 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-54
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the search declared unconstitutional.
California wants the search upheld as reasonable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the officer had unlimited discretion to search.
California argues parole is a privilege exchanged for search consent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if refusing a search is a dire consequence.
Justice Kennedy asked if a parole officer could threaten revocation to force consent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-54 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of state power over released offenders. It balances public safety against individual privacy rights. The outcome shapes how states manage parole populations nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-54 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 41-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 41-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-5 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-5
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.